The Perfect Meeting & Event Conferences UK Issue 7

The Perfect Meeting & Event

Issue

07

free stacksof

wi-fi and more...

Yarnfield Park is a leading training and conference centre located in the heart of the UK. Just minutes away from the M6, easily accessible via train from London, and less than an hour’s drive from Manchester and Birmingham.

We work with organisations who want to bring people together to meet, share experience and enjoy learning. From associations to government bodies and from charities to corporate clients, our dedicated and experienced team will recommend the best options for your event, offer exceptional value and deliver to the highest standards.

With a choice of conference and meeting spaces, we can host any event from a boardroom for 8 or a sales conference for 450 through to an exhibition or private dinner.

After significant investment, we now offer one of the fastest dedicated internet and Wi-Fi solutions operating at any venue in the UK. With the capacity to connect 800 devices simultaneously we are perfect for learning based or hybrid events.

• Free dedicated 300 Mbps superfast internet • 25 meeting spaces • 338 en-suite bedrooms • Free car parking Whatever your event, big or small, we can offer an effective and functional solution to help you grow, be inspired and feel empowered.

Yarnfieldpark training & conference centre

T: 01785 762900 E: enquiries@yarnfieldpark.co.uk www.yarnfieldpark.co.uk

meet. learn. relax. enjoy.

Inside this Issue...

4.

OW TO ORGANISE H THE PERFECT MEETING

6.

OW TO RUN THE H PERFECT MEETING

8.

HAT NOT TO DO W WHEN ORGANISING A CONFERENCE OR MEETING

12. T OP TEN MOST INTERESTING VENUES 16. T HE CHANGING FACE OF MEETING AND EVENTS IN 2014 20. E VENT ORGANISATION 24. I N THE SPOTLIGHTS

Editor’s Letter Hello, and welcome to our first issue of 2014. I’d like to firstly wish you all a happy new year, and every success for the year ahead. I know that business has been tough for many of you over the last few years, but I’m very optimistic for the year ahead and I hope you all are too.

We have lots of exciting and insightful information for you inside of this edition; with a particular focus on planning that ‘perfect’ event – whether it’s a meeting or a large corporate function, I firmly believe that planning is the key to success. At ConferencesGroup, we understand that event planning can seem like such a daunting task, but it doesn’t need to be. One of the first aspects that needs to be considered is finding a suitable venue, which is ultimately at the heart of our business, and we are happy to help you find the perfect venue so you can concentrate on the finer details.

You will also find included information on the most common mistakes people make when organising an event, predictions for what 2014 holds for the sector and tips on getting better organised for the year ahead.

From all of us at ConferencesGroup, we hope you find this edition both interesting and beneficial, and I look forward to hearing any questions, queries or comments you may have; or requests on finding that perfect venue.

Simon Thompson, Managing Director, simon@conferencesgroup.com

How to organise the perfect event Planning an event can be extremely daunting. Here are some tips to help plan the perfect event that EVERYONE will be talking about.

Not only is event planning a huge amount of responsibility placed on you with regards to sticking to the budget; but it can feel like attendees will be watching your every move, and holding you personally responsible for whether the event is a success or not.

But don’t worry, here at Conferences Group we’ve got some great tips to help you plan that perfect event that everyone will be talking about!

1. Call Conferences Group

3. Stick to your budget

It’s our job to help you find the perfect venue! Simply give us a call, and let us know whereabouts you want the venue to be, how many people it’s for, your budget and any other information you want us to know and we’ll help find you the venue that’s right for you at the best possible price.

Draw up a budget and stick to it!

Whilst you may think that money can buy the best in terms of things like the venue and catering; you need to remember that it will be you as the organiser of the event who will be giving your employees a good time, not all the money you’ve spent.

Besides, you wouldn’t want to blow your yearly budget on one day and spend the rest of the year regretting it, would you?

2. Draw up the perfect guest list Is it just employees that you’re inviting, or will you be inviting other people outside of your company too? Send out invitations in plenty of time, so guests can RSVP. Decide which is the best way to send out the invitations: if it’s just your employees who will be attending, an email may be the best way. Alternatively, you could instead create webpage for the event. Finally, remember that not everyone will be able to attend, so you’ll need to bear that in mind when finding a venue and organising the catering.

4

4. Plan your day Make sure you have a clear plan as to what you want to get out of the event, and then schedule in times for each section. Not only will this ensure you get everything covered that you wanted to; but by distributing the schedule to delegates will mean that they can prepare themselves for the day ahead.

5. Have a back-up plan

7. Get a great photographer

So you’ve planned your day down to the minute. Now you need to carry out a quick risk assessment and have a plan B in place for each activity just in case the worst thing possible could go wrong. If it’s a team building event you’re organising, and you’ve planned the perfect exercise outdoors, make sure you have an alternate one that can be carried out indoors in case it decides to rain.

After planning the perfect event, you’ll want a photographer to capture the moment, and it’s best to hire one whose had plenty experience in photographing corporate events.

With a bit of investigating, you can find yourself a photographer who will not only take pictures of the event, but will provide you with images for your social media, press releases and any other activities you wish to show everyone what a great event organiser you are!

6. Section off separate areas Make sure there’s another room that employees can relax during the breaks, so that they can chill out and take their mind off of the information that they’ve been digesting; or maybe do some networking. Spending the whole day in one room can bore employees, and mean they can lose interest in the event, meaning productivity will be lower.

5

How to Run the Perfect Meeting Meeting. Just the word can summon up dread for even the most dedicated of employees.

But why is that?

Well, perhaps it’s a sense of wasted time – as a recent survey from Office Broker showed, the average office worker spends around 16 hours a week in a meeting; which, when added up, equates to over 750 hours in just one year.

With employees working busy days with restrictive time constraints; they can already feel like there isn’t enough time in the day; but with some effective planning, that essential meeting you’re organising will feel like time well spent for both you and your employees - here are 7 tips which will help you to do so.

6

Effectively communicate with employees beforehand Send out invitations to your employees at least 24 hours beforehand, with a brief outline of what will be discussed in the meeting. If the meeting will cover a few different subjects; it’s worth allocating time slots to each one, especially as it will help deter you from running over during the actual meeting.

Be Punctual If the meeting is supposed to start at 10am; make sure you start at 10am, even if some of your colleagues have not yet arrived. Employees who have turned up on time will thank you for it, as they won’t want to sit around for fifteen minutes when they have work to do; especially as it means the meeting will more than likely run over at the end.

Define the purpose of the meeting Even though you’ve already outlined the topics of discussion for the meeting in the invite; there is no harm in cutting to the chase and again, explaining why you have arranged this meeting, the subjects that will be available for discussion, and what you aim to get out of it. Straightaway, that will engage employees, refresh their memories and act as a confirmation that the meeting has a specific point.

Don’t veer off topic With ideas and opinions flying around, it can be quite easy to get distracted and discuss something completely off topic. If this happens, stop the conversation before it becomes a fully-blown debate – after all, neither you nor your colleagues want to run over time.

Assign clear action plans From your findings from the discussion, clearly announce the action plans that you and your colleagues must take to achieving your specific goal(s); delegating these plans as effectively as possible. Ensure that all colleagues are 100% clear on the action to be taken; and are happy with the task(s) they have been allocated.

Conclude with plans for the next meeting Once everyone is clear on their responsibilities, and the time frames in which to complete them; briefly close the meeting with a suggested date for the follow up meeting; allowing colleagues to effectively prepare.

Let’s face it: everyone has been to an incredibly dull meeting at some point in their working life; but everyone will no doubt have been to an inspiring one too. Make sure yours falls into the latter – after all, there is no point in a meeting that has no point.

Provide refreshments If your meeting is scheduled to run for a considerable amount of time (for instance, more than an hour), it can be a nice touch to provide some refreshments – even if it’s just bottled water and some biscuits. It can be a good idea to factor in a quick 10 minute break so employees can relax and digest the information, before continuing with the discussion.

7

What Not to Do When Organising a Conference or Meeting To make sure you don’t end up with your tail between your legs, make sure you avoid these conference faux pas.

Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today. This includes a precise agenda for your meeting. You can adapt your plan depending on how things are going, but initial structure is necessary to focus participants and reassure them they’re there for a good reason. Organisation and planning are sure-fire ways to ensure your event runs smoothly.

Book a venue over budget As regal as you feel booking that stately home or suite in the Tower of London, the glamour fades with the bill. Determine a reasonable budget prior to venue hunting and stick to it.

Our Expert venue finders can help you find the best venue for your money.

Make an enquiry.

8

Scrimp on the budget The other end of the scale. You’ll get the most out of your team by ensuring they feel well looked-after, so don’t be frugal.

Forget about catering and water No matter how engaging a meeting is, participants always come away with an opinion on the food. Check what catering options are available when booking your venue and ask whether they’ll include unlimited tea and coffee in the day delegate rate.

Book an unsuitable venue Sending delegates on a wild goose chase will inevitably set things off to a bad start. Check transport links before booking your venue and ensure the meeting room satisfies your technical requirements.

Get a speaker in without briefing them Even the most reputable professional in the field is little use to you without knowing the purpose of your meeting and what goals his or her contribution is expected to help achieve.

Make inappropriate jokes Funny name badges can work as an ice-breaker, but not when it gets personal - let delegates make their own so they don’t feel ridiculed.

Humour is a great way of easing the atmosphere, but don’t recycle jokes from Christmas crackers and hold back on the distasteful one-liners.

Run over schedule Your goals will be undermined if participants leave the meeting in a bad mood having been made late for their next commitment.

LET THE SHOW BEGIN Following a huge ÂŁ1.5 million ground floor refurbishment, Holiday Inn Stratford-upon-Avon set in the heart of this historic town is now ready to take centre stage and host your next conference, meeting or event. Featuring a brand new ballroom, lounge, bar, restaurant and stunning outdoor heated terrace, we are ready to welcome you and shine.

If you like the look of our new scene call 01789 279988 or email events.histratford@qmh-hotels.com to find out more or arrange a show round.

Holiday Inn Stratford-upon-Avon Bridgefoot, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YR.

www.holidayinn.com/stratfordavon www.qmh-hotels.com

The Grand Connaught Rooms, part of the award winning PH Hotels.

PH Hotels on Winning Streak after Success of FA 150th Anniversary at The Grand Connaught Rooms

10

Advertorial

For more information, visit

www.grandconnaughtrooms.com

The team at the Grand Connaught Rooms, part of the award winning PH Hotels group (with 23 premier hotel and conference venues across the UK), is celebrating the success of another high profile event after hosting the FA’s 150th anniversary dinner – one of the most important dates in this year’s sporting calendar.

Amongst the 350 guests included FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, former England striker Michael Owen, and the guest of honour HRH the Duke of Cambridge. The Grand Connaught Room has enjoyed a relationship with FA since 1863, with a plaque unveiled last month on the hotel’s exterior celebrating the venue’s important role in the FA’s prestigious history.

The Grand Connaught Rooms offer: • Central location - five minutes from Covent Garden - surrounded by excellent transport links • A variety of function spaces, from small meetings for ten people, to conferences for 800 delegates, and large functions for up to 1,000 guests in the opulent Grand Room • Dedicated team, delivering over-andabove expectations for every event For more information call on 0207 405 7811 or make an online enquiry through their website www.grandconnaughtrooms.com

The Grand Connaught rooms has established a strong reputation as the venue of choice for other high profile events, having recently hosted Britain’s Got Talent and the Elle Style Awards.

11

Top 10 Most Interesting Venues Here at ConferencesGroup, we understand what a daunting process it can be to try and plan an exciting, upcoming corporate event that will have all of your employees talking. An amazing venue can make all of the difference, so here is a list of our top 10 unusual venues found on our website to give your event an edge.

London Zoo

Storrs Hall

Sadlers Wells

Set in Regent’s park in 36 acres of zoological gardens with 720 species of animals. The Prince Albert Suite is their largest indoor entertaining space, accommodating up to 260 in a banqueting style, or 300 for a reception. Delegates can enjoy a view of the popular Penguin beach, as well as a 60 minute complimentary access to the zoo.

Set in the Lake District with beautiful views of the picturesque lake Windermere, Storrs Hall is a grade II Georgian mansion, offering a luxurious, Old-English style setting. Alongside the 30 bedrooms, Storrs Hall also offer comfortable log cabins for delegates who want to experience something a bit different!

Set in quirky Islington, Sadlers Wells is famous as a premier destination for dance performances (most notably ballet); and is also available as a unique corporate venue. All three theatres owned by Sadler’s Wells (including Lilian Baylis, the main complex on Rosebery Avenue) is fully equipped for conferences and hospitality events, with a catering team who are happy to create bespoke menus.

12

The perfect choice for your next city centre event.

The purpose built conference facility is located in the university district of Manchester, only 5 minutes’ walk from Piccadilly Train Station and 20 minutes’ drive from Manchester International Airport.

• 2 professional tiered theatres • 16 meeting rooms and exhibition space • One point of contact for the planning of your conference and all finer details • Dedicated Audio Visual & Operations Team available A one-stop-shop for all your event needs, the individual meeting rooms vary from 10 boardroom to 100 theatre, all with natural daylight and air-conditioning. There are 117 3* bedrooms and all guests have full use of The Conservatory Bar & Courtyard, Hub Bistro and The Coffee Bean.

Manchester Conference Centre & Hotel Sackville Street Manchester M1 3BB T: 0161 955 8000 F: 0161 955 8050 E: conference@days-mcc.co.uk

To make a booking call 0161 955 8000, email conference@days-mcc.co.uk or visit manchesterconferencecentre.co.uk

Manchester Town Hall

Orient Express

HM Tower of London

Located in the heart of Manchester on Albert Square, Manchester Town Hall offers a grand venue for corporate events. There are a large number of rooms to suit all needs and numbers, from the Lord Mayor’s parlour with portraits of public figures, to the banquet hall decorated with golden suns, and ten committee rooms; there really is something for everyone.

Northern Belle – stationed at Victoria station in Manchester, the Northern Belle reflects the affluent trains of the 1930s; and is the first classic train of the 21st century that provides day excursions and short breaks throughout the Midlands and North of England. With immaculate carriages, superb food and exquisite scenery, the Northern Belle offers a unique venue for all corporate needs.

A building that is seeped in hundreds of years of British history offers a corporate event with a difference.

Conferences can be held in many rooms, from the white tower to the medieval palace; but perhaps most impressive is the New Armories building, which was constructed in 1663-4 as a store for military equipment and supplies!

The London Eye As well as being one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, the London Eye offers a different perspective for corporate events, with London’s famous streets, palaces and monuments; with views that stretch 25 miles on a clear day. Delegates can enjoy priority boarding, in addition to food and drink; with flights arranged outside the normal operating hours for reservations of ten or more capsules.

Macdonald Aviemore Resort Located in the heart of Cairngorms National Park, at the foot of the Cairngorm mountains, the resort offers the opportunity for delegates to truly escape, and experience outdoor opportunities all year round. The four hotels in the grounds have hosted events of World Congresses; and offers unique team building exercises and activities from fishing, quad biking to skiing on the dry ski slope!

14

The Custard Factory Located in the Bohemian Quarter of Birmingham, the Custard Factory has been host to many creative events including weddings, vintage fairs and film screenings. The Old Library is a popular room for corporate events, with neutral décor, enabling companies to dress the room to suit their style. Additionally, this venue is surrounded by clothing shops, hair and beauty parlours, and plenty of green spaces with fountains and sculptures, to make delegates’ time here even more enjoyable and unique.

The Deep Hull Employees often joke about there being sharks in the office, but at the Deep Hull you can hold your corporate events next to the real things; with over 40 sharks and 3,550 different fish – this venue will definitely get your office talking!

If you like the sound of any of these venues, or want to discover some more options, feel free to give us a call on 0845 351 9917 – we’re happy to help!

Baylis House Hotel Enjoy a delightful blend of luxury, comfort & convenience.

Baylis House Hotel is a stunning grade one listed historical building surrounded with beautiful garden. The hotel features; • A magnificent state-of-the-art venue • On-site accommodation • First class catering • Exceptional service and attention to detail At Baylis House hotel we make it our business to understand your needs and get it right first time.

You can rely on our fully trained, experienced staff to help you with any aspect of your event plan - whether your event is a board meeting or an international conference.

• Competitive rates • Day and 24 hour delegate rates • Range of catering services Whatever your requirements, count on Baylis House to provide you with a first class service.

Click here to visit the website

venues@baylishouse.co.uk 01753 555 555 Conference co-ordinator – Grace Ohn www.baylishouse.co.uk

The changing face of meeting & events in 2014 A common theme among both industry observers and practitioners over the last five years has been the challenges faced by the sector.

As a result of the economic climate, many have felt pressure on budgets, leading to a requirement to attempt to achieve more with diminished resources. However, in early 2014, there is an increasing sense of optimism around the sector throughout Europe and the USA. This is particularly the case in the UK, where along with countries like Germany, an increasingly robust economic recovery is leading to a growth in business confidence. In turn this is leading to an increasingly bright outlook for meetings and events this year.

£58.4 billion

The Status Quo

Despite the challenges of the past few years, the meetings and events industry is now the 17th largest sector in the UK and contributes just under £60 billion of the UK’s gross domestic product, three times that of the agriculture industry. Furthermore, it accounts for one million full-time equivalent employees and is now the UK’s 16 largest employer.

Virtual meetings are established as an important part of the business landscape. This trend has been fuelled by the growth in low cost, easily accessible technology. However, despite this trend, we believe that face to face events and meetings will continue to thrive. There are a number of reasons for this, but the most important one is that they are one of the most effective mediums for bringing buyers and sellers together.

The vibrancy and importance of meetings and events is now increasingly being recognised as a barometer of the economic health of the country. The all round positive news is that there is an expectation of significant growth this year, with industry professionals forecasting a 3.6% upturn.

Driving and shaping this growth are a handful of key trends, which are becoming increasingly influential.

16

Research indicates that meetings and events are actually the second most effective channel for lead generation (after web traffic). Since the majority of organisations are always seeking new ‘business’ in whatever form that takes for them, this will continue to ensure the sector thrives.

INSPIRING LOCATIONS M AC D ON A L D HOT EL S & R ESOR TS

@

From the Scottish Highlands right down to the South Coast of England, we have over 45 individual meeting places nationwide with capacities from 10 to 1,000 delegates. If you need the convenience of a city centre venue next to a main line train station, our hotels in locations such as Manchester, Oxford, Edinburgh and Birmingham should tick your boxes; or if you need a complete escape to a location with no distractions, then consider one of our beautiful manor houses in Cheshire, Shropshire or Northumberland.

A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

INTRODUCING A SELECTION OF OUR SCOTTISH HOTELS TO CONFERENCES-UK.ORG.UK:

Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Aviemore

Macdonald Crutherland House, near Glasgow

Conference Direct on 0845 604 4242

Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh

Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa, near Stirling

www.MacdonaldHotels.co.uk/Business

The Great Outdoors

Content is King

Meeting face to face also enriches and deepens the learning experience, in a way that can’t yet be replicated online. Indeed it is the unique experiences that events can deliver that opinion leaders in the industry are focusing one. Simon Gidman of Visit England has commented on an increasing trend towards a more ‘natural’ meeting experience, with venues enabling delegates to get outside more easily or in some cases bringing the outdoors to the delegates. Gidman provides the example of London’s newest skyscraper 20 Fenchurch Street.

This landmark building will house the ‘Sky Garden’, an upside down garden in the sky concept that will create a unique event space.

Content has been the buzzword across most marketing channels for some time now. It has become particularly important for the events industry, as content is defining the event and its structure rather than the event calendar and structure shaping event content. There are two reasons for this,

At a more basic level, research indicates that 76% of people want to dine in restaurants that serve locally sourced food. This is something that event organisers and venues can increasingly use as a way to enhance the delegate experience, in line with this trend, relatively easily.

1P articipants expect to have a direct influence on event content 2 There is an increasing requirement for content to be delivered in more engaging ways Technology is the key driver here.

Low cost web based technology, such as allourideas.org, provide new methods of engaging delegates in event and content creation.

Increasingly, attendees expect to be able to co-create events, as this increases the chances of making sure that their needs are met.

At the same time delegates have enhanced expectations of the way in which content will be delivered to them at their event. The majority are familiar with impactful media such as Vine, delivering engaging content regardless of location, thereby further increasing expectations in a formal event environment. .

Social media has a key role, here, as it begins to reach maturity in the industry and is increasingly deployed as a method of ensuring the right people get to meet each other at larger events. An excellent example of a new media underpinning the continued success of an established one. *UK Economic Impact Study (UKEIS)

18

New conferences & events website The new website offers quick and easy access to essential information and features Center Parcs’ three conference venues around the UK. Enabling corporates, agencies and event planners to familiarise themselves with its residential offering, conference, meetings and team building activities and choose the one that best fits their requirements.

The new site features; • • • •

Venue updates Packages Special offers Case studies

• News • Inspirational event ideas • Photos, videos & social media updates

To ensure that Center Parcs’ product offering is second to none and that rates reflect today’s competitive market place, 2014’s will see the introduction of some brand new 24 hour rates that will be available throughout the New Year.

www.centerparcsevents.co.uk

Event Organisation Essential resources to fulfil all of your organisational needs.

4 Essential Resources Organising meetings and events can take a lot of time and planning; and at times it can get quite stressful trying to sort out every minute detail! However, there are resources out there that can help you focus on the task at hand, and help you plan your corporate event with the minimum of stress.

20

www.basecamp.com

Read the book

The key to event-planning is organisation – the preparation itself can take a long time, especially for people who are not naturally organised. www.basecamp.com is a website that allows you to set up and manage projects and to-do lists, enabling you to then share them amongst other colleagues. Simply register your details (it’s free for 90 days) and start typing down everything that needs doing, and when it needs to be done by.

If you’re still finding that your workload is becoming difficult to control, then why not read Dave Allen’s book: “Getting Things Done: how to achieve stress-free productivity”, available on Amazon for just £4.

Allen has created an entirely new and pragmatic approach to time management. Having implemented the methods written in many major organisations including Microsoft and the US Department of Justice; this system in this book actually works and will help you to remain calm and level-handed, whilst managing your project effectively with your other workloads.

Get the App If you’re one of the many millions regularly checking your phone, you may find it beneficial installing an organisational app so you can sort out your event on the go. There are lots of apps to choose from, but the best ones are Wunderlist and Priorities.

Wunderlist is free to download, and allows you to create to-do lists and share them with other people. Whilst Priorities costs £1.99, it offers the same features as Wunderlist with the added extras of being able to rate tasks in terms of importance, set time deadlines and add sub-sections under each ‘to-do’. With Priorities, you can also create an account online on www. my-priorities.com, so you can view it easier at work.

22

Delegate – even if you don’t have staff!

One thing that helps to make eventplanning much easier is having a reliable set of contacts. The first thing that any planner needs to consider is the venue – by heading over to our website www.conferences-uk.org. uk, you’ll be able to choose between over 10,000 venues in the UK; and 12,500 internationally if you wish on venturing further afield! Alternatively, if you’re unsure of where to start, give us a call, and by letting us know information such as the location you’re after, the capacity needed and any extra added touches, we’ll be able to find the venue that’s perfect for you at the best possible price; meaning you can start ticking off things on your todo list much quicker!

The Elite philosophy Providing a first class service in exceptionAL surroundings

Whether you are hosting a small business meeting, a dazzling evening event, important conference or staff incentive day, Elite’s philosophy behind your important business occasion remains consistent and concise.

It is our mission to take care of every element of arranging your important event. Our philosophy is simple: ‘To provide a first class service in exceptional surroundings’.

We strive to go the extra mile to provide you with the tools you need to get your occasion working for you.

We know that hosting a meeting, incentive day, conference or event are all important parts of your business strategy so we make it an important part of ours to ensure they will run smoothly from start to finish.

Elite Hotels comprise of four stunning hotels of distinction in the South East of England • Ashdown Park

• Tylney Hall

• The Grand Hotel

• Luton Hoo

Each hotel offers impressive conference facilities, exquisitely appointed bedrooms and suites, excellent spa facilities and sumptuous cuisine in award winning restaurants.

For more information about Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events visit:

www.elitehotels.co.uk/meetings

In the Spotlight Ian Faithfull, General Manager of Baylis House

What is the one piece of advice you would offer to someone who was responsible for organising a large meeting or event?

Know what you want – but listen to your contact at the Venue you have chosen – they know how their particular property works. If they tell you something doesn’t work – they are trying to help, not be unhelpful!

What are the most common mistakes people make when organising large meetings or events?

If someone is new to organising a large event, they often underestimate the time needed for people to eat, especially when it comes to buffet service – it does take time to get 300 people through a buffet line, even if there is more than one station.

24

What does your venue(s) do to help event organisers ensure their event is perfect?

We like to personally meet our clients and show them around first of all and try to keep just one point of contact if necessary – it leads to trust between our clients and the venue

Which event, meeting or conference you have hosted at your venue has been your favourite?

I have only been with the company now for 4 months and so far, I have to say my favourite was our New Years Eve Party. We had over 400 people for a Bollywood Themed Night with a Mega Buffet, great entertainment and dancing until 3am – what a way to welcome in the new year! And we received some great feedback which always makes it worthwhile.

What do you think 2014 holds for the industry?

Mmmm this one is a little tricky... we still hear lots of doom and gloom and conference business especially has continued to decline, but the volume of enquiries that we receive give me hope for 2014. We just need to ensure our rates and offering are correct. Smaller, regular meetings and conferences will be our focus.

Here at Baylis we also cater for many weddings and our reputation continues to grow in this market.

The trick will be to fill the trough periods. Our new website and facebook page are set to help in this area and marketing will continue to be important.

Ordinary was so last year...

Come and experience the extraordinary at Alexandra Palace.

Discover your Ally Pally

alexandrapalace.com

one venue..... countless options

More than just a racing circuit, Donington Park is also an all-year-round venue for conferences, exhibitions, trade shows, product launches, private parties and much more. The variety of our facilities means we have something to suit all requirements.

We have various conference suites ranging in capacity from 2 to 800 delegates, so whatever your requirements we can offer you the ideal venue for all your conferencing, events and exhibition needs.

Complimenting our suites, is the Donington Exhibition and Conference Centre, which is the largest facility of its kind in the East Midlands, offering over 4400 square metres of ground floor space enabling a capacity of up to 6000 in a reception layout.

Venue Hire - Tel: 01332 810048 Email: venuehire@donington-park.co.uk Donington Park Racing Limited, Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2RP www.donington-park.co.uk

conferences

gala dinners

product launches

trade shows

exhibitions

weddings

Welcome to Birmingham’s

newest meeting venue A state of the art, brand new conference space at the heart of Birmingham city centre, opened November 2013, within the stunning surroundings of one of Europe’s largest brick buildings...

Discover more...

Call the Conference Aston team on

0121 204 4300 or email info@conferenceaston.co.uk www.conferenceaston.co.uk

The Old Church, Albert Hill Street, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6RF Telephone: 0845 351 9917